Legislative Breakfast

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Welcome

• 2007-2008
• Legislative Breakfast

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Raised Right
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CTJJA What Do We Believe?
Statewide advocacy organization working for a
safe, effective and equitable juvenile justice
system in Connecticut

• We believe in providing effective community based
  services before a childs behavior escalates to
  involvement in the juvenile justice system.
• When a child does enter the juvenile justice
  system, we support a combination of
  accountability and rehabilitative services whose
  effectiveness has been demonstrated time and time
  again.

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CTJJA 2008 Legislative Agenda

• Raised Right
• Raise the Age CT (RTA CT)
• Families With
• Service Needs
• (FWSN)

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Raise the Age CT

• Connecticut is one of only three states to try
  all 16 and 17 year olds as adults no matter how
  minor their crime

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Raise the Age CT

• Public Act 7-4 Effective January 1, 2010, 16 and
  
• 17 year -olds will be tried
• as juveniles
• Aside from serious and violent offenders, youth
  who are up to the age of
• 18 when they commit a crime will be under the
  jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system.

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Why The Change?

• When youth are tried as adults, there are poor
  outcomes for youth and community. Incarcerated
  youth
• Receive fewer rehabilitative supports including
  education, treatment and vocational training
• Are at risk of school of crime training, with
  unhealthy adult mentors.

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Why The Change?

• Upon Reentering the community, youth
• Are subject to increased stigma and labeling
• May have weakened ties to
• family and other support systems

• Will have difficulty finding
• and keeping a job because of their criminal
  record.

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Raise the Age CT

• The 2007 legislation brings Connecticut in line
  with national best practices by
• Providing youth an opportunity to accept the
  consequences for their actions
• Improving public safety
• Provides access to services and rehabilitation
  options to youth
• Lowers the chances of youth reoffending.

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Currently JJPOCC

• The Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Oversight
  Coordinating Council (JJPOCC) began meeting every
  other week in early September
• Bi-partisan, legislatively mandated group
• The Council is preparing for the enactment of RTA
  legislation. 

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Currently - JJPOCC

• Visit the JJPOCC website at http//www.housedems.c
  t.gov/jjpocc/index.html for presentations,
  agendas, reports and other information.

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What Now?

• 2008 issues from JJPOCC
• Improve court diversion and pre-trial detention
  practices
• Phase in an effective system of services and
  supports for 16- and 17-year-olds
• Iron out all of the technical details of the
  change as it will affect local and state agencies

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What Do We Want?

• Collaborate with JJPOCC to ensure state agencies
  are accountable for policy changes
• Follow recommended JJPOCC statutory changes for
  successful implementation of legislation
• Support legislation and policy that reduces the
  number of youth in juvenile justice system

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FWSN

• Since 2005, Connecticut has been taking steps to
  decriminalize status offenders (FWSN)
• These young people arent criminals and have not
  committed crimes.
• Goal Help youth and families experiencing
  challenges address those issues and avoid the
  juvenile justice system.

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FWSN Offenses

• FWSN offenses include
• Truancy
• Running away
• Out-of-control behavior
• Immoral conduct

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FWSN

• Changes that went into effect October 1st 2007

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FWSN REFERRAL PROCESS
Police, Parent, School
Probation Officer
Return to Referral Source
Sufficient
Insufficient
Assessment
Refer to Community Based Program w/notice to
referral source
Refer to Family Support Center w/notice to
referral source
FSC No further benefit
CBP No further benefit
Probation Officer
Probation Officer
Assessment
Withdraw complaint
File petition
Withdraw complaint
Part II Court Process
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FWSN

• New services include
• Family mediation
• Educational Advocacy
• Mentoring
• Crisis Intervention
• Full spectrum of community based services such as
  IICAPS and MST.
• Family Support Centers can also refer to respite
  beds in the state.

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COURT PROCESS
Case goes to court
Judge
Judge refers to community based services or other
program prior to adjudication continues case
for 6 months
If all goes well case is dismissed and erased.
Or The child can be adjudicated FWSN There can
be a finding of imminent risk
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COURT PROCESS

• Dispositional options if a FWSN is adjudicated
• Refer the family for voluntary services
• Place the child on supervision (probation)
• Commit the child to DCF if found to be the
  least restrictive alternative.

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VIOLATION OF COURT ORDER

• Probation officer files petition ? Hearing
• Violation found ? Determine least restrictive
  available alternative such as
• Child to stay at home
• Under supervision of probation officer
• Last resort Staff secure CSSD facility or
  committed to DCF

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IMMINENT RISK
Petition filed alleging imminent physical harm

• Findings - Based on petition allegations and
  other verified affirmations
• child is in imminent risk of physical harm from
  surroundings
• as a result, the childs safety is endangered
  and immediate removal is necessary
• no less restrictive alternative is available

Child placed in staff secure CSSD facility
Hearing w/in 24 hrs exc weekends holidays
Released
If not released, child may not be held gt45 days
w/court review every 15 days
At the end of 45 days
Release to community for services
Commit the child to DCF lt18 months
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Current FWSN

• FWSN Advisory Board
• Visit http//www.cga.ct.gov/kid/fwsn/fwsn.asp for
  further information
• Official recommendations coming soon

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What Do We Want?

• Broad community education about new process and
  philosophy
• Follow recommendations of FWSN Advisory Board
  (released soon)
• Truancy reduction efforts (cause of 50 FWSN
  referrals)
• Necessary Funding
• Authorize State Department of Education budget
  request for truancy reduction programs
• Fund additional DCF FWSN liaisons
• Fund 6 additional Family Support Centers

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What You Can Do

• Stay involved! Our work is far from over. Your
  role is just as important and your voice just as
  strong this year.
• Educate yourself, your friends and your family to
  use the power of your voices and votes.
• Raise The Age
• Communicate with legislators regarding need for
  timely and effective RTA legislation
• FWSN
• Persuade legislators to fund Family Support
  Centers, etc.
• Join CTJJA listservs and mailing lists, attend
  meetings
• Advocate for prevention and early intervention
  through quality, available childrens mental
  health services and efforts to shut down the
  school to prison pipeline